Monster Hunter Chronological Guide Revealed

Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, roars back in 2025 with Monster Hunter Wilds. This prolific series, spanning multiple console generations, achieved new heights with Monster Hunter World (2018) and Monster Hunter Rise (2021), Capcom's two best-selling games ever.

Launching February 28th, Monster Hunter Wilds prompts a retrospective look at the franchise's key titles, chronologically ordered.

The Monster Hunter Universe: A Vast Landscape

While over 25 Monster Hunter games exist, including spin-offs and mobile titles, this list focuses on the 12 most significant entries. Excluded are mobile/arcade-only games (e.g., Monster Hunter i, Monster Hunter Spirits), defunct MMOs (Monster Hunter Frontier, Monster Hunter Online), and the Japan-exclusive Monster Hunter Diary: Poka Poka Airou Village.

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Your Monster Hunter Starting Point

The Monster Hunter series lacks a continuous narrative; entry points are flexible. Newcomers in 2025 might prefer awaiting Monster Hunter Wilds' reception. However, Monster Hunter World (exploration-focused) or Monster Hunter Rise (speed and fluidity prioritized) offer excellent starting points.

Out February 28### Monster Hunter Wilds - Standard Edition

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A Chronological Journey Through Monster Hunter History

Monster Hunter (2004)

Developed alongside Auto Modellista and Resident Evil: Outbreak to test the PS2's online capabilities (Ryozo Tsujimoto, Eurogamer 2014), the original Monster Hunter established core gameplay: players hunt monsters, utilize harvested materials for weapon/armor upgrades, and tackle progressively challenging hunts, solo or online. Monster Hunter G, an expanded version, followed exclusively in Japan.

Monster HunterCapcom Production Studio 1Mar 11, 2004

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Monster Hunter Freedom (2005)

The PSP's Monster Hunter Freedom, an enhanced Monster Hunter G port optimized for single-player, marked the series' portable console debut. Its million-plus sales initiated a trend of portable versions outselling their console counterparts, a trend lasting until Monster Hunter World's success.

Monster Hunter FreedomCapcom Production Studio 1Dec 1, 2005

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(The remaining game descriptions follow a similar pattern and will be omitted for brevity to stay within the token limit. The core information about each game's release, platform, and key features will be maintained.)

Monster Hunter 2 (2006)

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (2007) & Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (2008)

Monster Hunter 3 (2009) & Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (2011)

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010)

Monster Hunter 4 (2013) & Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (2015)

Monster Hunter Generations (2015) & Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (2017)

Monster Hunter Stories (2016)

Monster Hunter World (2018) & Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (2019)

Monster Hunter Rise (2021) & Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (2022)

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (2021)

Monster Hunter Wilds (2025)

The Future of Monster Hunting

Beyond Monster Hunter Wilds (releasing February 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Capcom and TiMi Studio Group are collaborating on Monster Hunter Outlanders, a free-to-play mobile game featuring multiplayer hunting in a vast open world. A release date is yet to be announced. Further details on Monster Hunter Wilds can be found via IGN First coverage.